Notice of Intent to Sole Source to UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention intends to award a sole source cost contract (CPFF) to UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM for lab services to identify and characterize antigenically advanced influenza viruses to improve vaccine development. The statutory authority for this sole source acquisition is 41 U.S.C 3304(a)(1) in accordance with FAR Part 6.302-1- only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy the agency requirement.

The NAICS code for this procurement is 541715 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology). UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM is the current contractor providing these services under the contract 75D30121C12027. This contract ends on 02/01/2024. The purpose of the new contract is to identify and characterize antigenically advanced influenza viruses to improve vaccine development.

Services require performing random mutagenesis for hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of the designated viruses and conducting antigenic selection using human serum to identify antigenically advanced influenza variants for vaccine development, followed by fitness characterization in the ferret animal model. The period of performance of this contract is:

March 1, 2024 – February 28, 2029 (including option periods). The Yoshihiro Kawaoka Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, is uniquely qualified for advanced influenza research due to its specific capabilities and resources, which are not replicated elsewhere. The laboratory has specialized facilities, including those permitted for the handling of zoonotic influenza by the USDA (BSL2E), necessary for safely researching pathogenic influenza viruses.

These facilities are rare and crucial for the proposed project. A vital aspect of the laboratory’s unique capability is its access to proprietary data, methodologies, and biological materials. These resources are critical for influenza research and are not readily available or replicable by other labs or commercial entities. The Kawaoka Laboratory's rights to these resources significantly limit the ability of other potential providers to offer comparable services.

Market research has confirmed that no other entities possess integrated capabilities and specific expertise in the Kawaoka Laboratory. This includes their specialized knowledge in antigenic characterization and genetic analysis of influenza viruses. Additionally, their proficiency with ferret models, a critical element in influenza research, sets them apart. As a result of this synopsis, no competitive solicitation will be posted on Sam.gov. We will issue only one solicitation to UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM.

However, firms that believe they can meet these requirements are encouraged to identify themselves and give written notice by providing a capability statement to the Contracting Officer by February 1, 2024. The Contracting Officer will not respond to verbal request. All requests must be in writing. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed action will be based on responses to this notice and are solely within the discretion of the Contracting Officer.

Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Inquiries shall be sent to Liubov Kriel by email at vyh1@cdc.gov and reference solicitation number 2024-82234 on the subject line.